February 2010 Mastectomy

hbowser

Good morning ladies,

lovemygarden - Congratulations on getting your drains out.  As to your question about port discomfort, it varies from person to person.  However, my experience, my port discomfort lasted about a week.  My doc. said I didn't have much "padding" in that area so the port was more prominent and the "vein line" was visible.  On the plus side, the nurses had no problems seeing the three "dots" (power port) and was able to access my port for chemo with no problems.  Just make sure that you get some numbing cream that you can put on it an hour before chemo; you won't feel them accessing it then. 

To all who had surgeries, I hope you are resting and taking good care of yourself.  Talk with you gals later.  Have a great weekend. Just hunkering down and waiting for the big snow storm they are predicting.  Be safe.

Holly

Faith316

Welcome toni67 and lovemygarden!  I have added your info to our group list above.

RE: port implantation ---- I too had quite a bit of discomfort with my port insertion surgery.  I was absolutely miserable at night for a couple of weeks.  I am a stomach sleeper and obviously could not sleep on my stomach.  I did not need pain meds during the day, but at night I usually took something.  The pain does go away.  My port has been in for 21 months now and I don't even notice it.  I am only on oral chemo now so don't need my port but elected not to have it removed in case I need it again someday.  I don't want to go through recovery again!  Yesterday when I had my mastectomy, I was glad I still had it.  After three unsuccessful attempts to get an IV started in my arm, I finally had to have the IV put in my port.

Glad you are doing well.

Faith316

Day 2.  Got discharged from the hospital this afternoon.  (Surgery was yesterday morning.)  Still really don't have pain, but just lots of soreness.  My muscles in my neck, chest, upper abdomen are all very sore.  It is difficult and uncomfortable to manuever around in the hospital bed and now at home to get in and out of the recliner.  But, it really isn't pain.  I did go ahead and fill the rx for Lortab that my surgeon gave me.  I have a feeling I won't use it but we are expecting a pretty significant snowfall tonight and tomorrow and I didn't want to decide that I needed something for pain and be snowed in on top of my hill and not be able to get to the pharmacy.  I also asked her to write me a rx for a muscle relaxer.  Again, I may not use it, but I am quite sore and I may decide it would help.  Who knows?  But, I've got it if I need it.

Can't use my cami yet.  I have a real sensitivity to medical tape and instead of taping bandages to me, she wrapped a type of ace bandage around my dressings.  I don't take it off until tomorrow.  After that, I'll wear the cami.  Can't wait to shower tomorrow!  I am going to have my hubby help me wash my hair in the kitchen sink in a little while.  That should help me feel like a new woman!

Hope Paintressa did well today.   We've made it through week one.  Next week we have 7 more girls who will be having surgery.  I hope our discussions thus far are helping them be better prepared for what to expect!

All for now.

lovemygarden

Just got back from getting my drains out, and honestly it didn't hurt at all! My surgeon removed the big plastic-wrap-type bandage from across my chest, so now I only have a bunch of steri-strips. I go back on Tuesday to have whatever else is there (sutures??) removed. The skin feels a little tight across my chest but other than that (and the blasted port area) no pain at all.

 She said I could shower tonight but I'm going to give the drains area another 24 hours to "close up" -- torn between wanting to feel clean and worrying about something starting to bleed again! Since it's "only" been 4 days since my last shower, I don't think another 24 hrs is going to make a huge difference either way!

 hbowser :  Yes, I too have "zero padding". I used to weigh around 115 lbs (am 5'4") but was down to 108 before the surgery. I keep meaning to weigh myself now just out of curiosity as to how much the surgery eliminated! So I too have the visible vein/port line running up the front of my neck from the actual port.

Made an appointment to sit down and talk with my oncologist next week to go over the 2 1/2 pages of new questions that I now have....  ! I want to get all that information in plenty of time to "process" it, do more research, etc, before making any final decisions. I know I will need some kind of chemo + Herceptin but I have many questions about what sort of chemo she may recommend.

Faith316

lovemygarden -- If I can help with any of your chemo questions, etc. I will be happy to.  By the way, chemo is no where near as horrible as people imagine it is going to be.  I have been on 6 different drugs in the past 20 months and have never once vomited or been really sick. 

lovemygarden

Thanks, Faith316 -- I will certainly do that once I know exactly what protocol I'll be getting!

Thanks too for adding me to the February list. I guess maybe it should say "Bilateral Mastectomy & Sentinel Node Biopsy", since that's what was actually done on Monday?

 (I'm still a bit giddy from finding out that it really was negative! My surgeon normally does a SLNB for a prophylactic mastectomy as well, but I just couldn't imagine living with the fear that I had not one but two "glass arms" ... and my prophylactic side is the one I use for everything. So I told her no SLNB on the right, and she sent me for a contrast MRI instead -- but I was still not 100% relieved of worry until the BC-side SLNB turned out negative as well. Whew! And there were no nasty surprises on the right side, which I understand can sometimes happen even with a clear MRI. Double whew! )

cornellalum

toni67 - a February 8th surgery sister! So we will both be having Mondays that are worse than usual.  What time is your surgery?  I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 AM, and it's a 90 mile drive.  So let's see, I'll have to leave the house at about 4:30 AM.  (sigh) My surgery is at 8:30 AM.  I asked about the SNB injections, and they said they would be doing them first thing, and then right into surgery.

Thanks so much to everyone who has posted after their surgeries.  It helps so much to hear about your experiences, and to hear about how well you are coping.

LauraM - There is a thread on this surgery discussion board about Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome.  It sounds very frustrating, but also fairly rare.  My doctor said that he thought it was neurological, and told me about the steps he takes to protect the various nerves that are in the way during a mastectomy.  I also asked questions about lymphedema.  I inquired about getting PT after surgery. I asked about the anethesia.  I asked about camisoles and drains.  Since it was a teaching hospital, I was very careful when I signed the release that my doctor would be doing the surgery, and not an "assistant."  (in fact, I had to cross out the sentence that said I consented to "assistants" doing the surgery under my doctor's supervision.)  I made sure that my doctor knew what I wanted to look like afterwards - since I'm not getting recon, I wanted to be completely flat, no floppy skin.

All things that I read about here on bc.org.  I think I wore them all out, but tough. I hired them, and they need to earn their money.   One of the residents said that I shouldn't hesitate to ask questions, and my dh started laughing, and told him to be careful what he asked for.  Nothing like a smart aleck dh!

lovemygarden

Oh, I meant to tell everyone about the camisole that I got, because apparantly not all the shops (at least not in my area anyway) carry them. Last spring or summer Amoena came out with a new one that zips up the front rather than the other styles that need to be either stepped into or pulled over the head, so that's what I bought the week before my surgery. It's also really pretty, with lace trim on the straps and front. It has separate pouches for the drain bulbs and you can place them anywhere along the side of the camisole rather than just having a fixed pocket in the front.

 They were $60 each which was only about $5 more than the step in/pull over style ... a no-brainer for me, and it is really comfortable too. 

 I have no medical insurance (yes, not only BC but no insurance either... talk about a double-whammy!) which is why I know the retail price; my 'plastic' has gotten a real workout already this month and I haven't even got the hospital's bill yet!

Lillies4Laurie

lovemygarden:  What site did you buy your cami from?

badger

Hi ladies, how are you all tonight?  Few random thoughts...This week I am living in sweat pants, a mast. cami with drain pockets and big button-front flannel shirt over the top.  Someone asked about drain output, last night mine was 12 ml one side 15 ml the other.

I was really glad I got the mast. cami, mine's the stretchy step-in style.  Bet if you google amoena you'll find their website.  Just don't do amoeba, that's a whole new result!  :-)

Did anyone else find the noise level at the hospital surprising?  All the machines make noises, beeping and humming, and people come & go, many unfamiliar noises.  I slept well regardless, taking a pain pill helped a lot...

Laying around in bed is highly over-rated, made my lower back sore after a while.  Walking helped, and adjusting the angles of the hosp. bed, and also pulling up my knees to flatten my lower back against the bed, that felt good.

I have one stitch for each drain, the incisions are covered with 4x4 gauze pads...discharge nurse tipped me to take two pain pills before my follow up appt with surgeon on Monday so DH will have to drive me.

cornellalum - when the surgeon came in just pre-op and asked if I had any questions, I asked him how HE was doing!  LOL...then reminded him I wasn't having any recon and pls do as nice a result as possible, and you know he did a really nice job.  No dog-ears, those fat pockets under your arms, I am impressed.  I'll admit I was a tiny bit worried as he's a general surgeon not a breast specialist but he's someone I know and trust. 

Thinking good thoughts for this week's sisters and also our sisters next week Mon*Weds*Fri.  {{hugs}}

Faith316

Good to hear that everyone seems to be getting along pretty well.

Evening of Day 2.  OK.  After telling you that yesterday (surgery day) that I wasn't really having any trouble with being able to put my arm over my head (not totally straight up, but raise it some), I now have to tell you that on Day 2, I am getting more stiff and sore.  Still not what I would call pain and I still haven't taken pain meds.  But, definitely less agile than I was yesterday.  Hoping tomorrow that I go back in the other direction and be less stiff, sore and achey.  

My hubby did wash my hair in kitchen sink which made me feel better.  I have a hand-held shower massage unit in my shower.  So, I took it down and gave myself a half bath from the waist down without getting all my bandages wet.  That also made me feel better.  Surgeon says I can remove the ace bandage and all the dressings underneath tomorrow and have a shower.  Yay!  I have staples.  She said that if the surgical area is dry, then I don't have to put any bandages back on there but if it is weepy at all to just use some large bandaids.

warning:  Do NOT buy "tough strip' bandaids.  I know firsthand from experience.  When I had my lumpectomy a year and a half ago, I sent my hubby out to buy large bandaids.  He bought tough strips.  I could NOT get them off!  They have extra strong adhesive.  On delicate breast skin it was horrible.  When I was trying to remove it, I was panicking.  I was thinking, "what am I going to do?"  It actually tore my skin as it was being pulled off. OUCH!!!   Just passing on the warning to all of you!

badger

Hi all, got a shower and washed my hair this morning - heavenly!  The little things in life, eh?

Faith, it was hard enough pulling off the hospital's 4x4 gauze & plastic tape after my shower, can't imagine tough strips!  Yikes!!  I just used 2x2 gauze & paper tape over drain exits.  They haven't bothered me too much so far. 

I have internal stitches and external steri-strips, no dressings, ace bandage was removed at the hosp.  Pulled on a clean cami and flannel pjs and I'm all set.  Yawn, is it time for a nap yet? 

Hope everyone is doing well today!  {{hugs}}

Faith316

I only have staples, no steri-strips.  My skin is really sensitive to tape.  Steri-strips don't fall off of me in 10 days like they are supposed to.  So, I end up having to take them off and it usually tears my skin.  So, this time my surgeon didn't use any tape at all on me.  Just staples and then covered them with gauze and wrapped it all with a very wide ace bandage to hold the bandages on.  No tape.

Today is Day 3.  Removed ace bandage and all bandages.  Looks really ugly!  But, at this point, after dealing with cancer and cancer treatments for nearly two years, I'll take health over appearance.  My incision is really long -- about a foot long to do the mastectomy and axillary node dissection.  My surgeon said she did take some more nodes (I also had node dissection when I had my lumpectomy in May 2008.)  But, she said I had a lot of scar tissue from the first surgery and it was a mess in there so she didnt want to bother my axilla too much for fear of me having severe nerve damage.  I still am mostly just sore rather than in pain.  Except, this morning about 3 different times I had a severe burning pain inside my upper arm.  Really weird.  No incision there.  Not sure what it is from.  I am thinking maybe has something to do with nerves???  It doesn't last very long but it burns really badly for maybe 20 or 30 seconds.  Hopefully it will resolve itself and not continue for long.  I still have not taken any pain meds as I haven't really felt like I needed them.  

Glad it is over with!  Will be anxious to get my pathology report next week. I'm hoping that with all the chemo I've been on for the past 20 months that they won't find a single malignant cell left!!  

LTK

Hi, February friends

 I just caught up on the post-op reports.  Glad you're home, girls--everyone who went this week. I wish you healing, healing, healing, physical and mental, too.  You're troopers, all of you!

I have big news: I have just this week decided to have a prophylactic mastectomy on the opposite, presumably healthy left side.  Love My Garden, you, like many women, connected the dots faster than I did. 

 Just this week, once I got a fuller sense of my surgery and the elaborate, at least 6-month process of "immediate" reconstruction (stupid, misleading choice of words), did I realize, "Oh my God, I never want to go thru this hell again."  Up until now, with my horror of any kind of surgery, I didn't consider for a second to have the healthy side prophylactically removed.  In fact, I was HORRIFIED when my first breast surgeon suggested I think about this very thing. 

But I had an epiphany this past week: I could guarantee myself, 99.9% according to my breast surgeon, that I will NOT walk this difficult road again if I do the prophylactic.  I actually can't believe I didn't come to this conclusion sooner.  Instead, it was a mental journey that took some time.

Strangely, miraculously, although I've just officially doubled the scope of this surgery, my anxiety about it has been GREATLY diminished.  Sounds crazy, right?  But it's psychological: I've just asserted myself over the situation, versus it over me.  In other words, I don't feel like the victim anymore.  I've just made a bold decision to take charge of my future in relation to breast cancer.

 Now it no longer feels like I'm losing a breast.  Instead, opting for bilateral, I'm gaining peace of mind.  The dynamic in my brain has completely changed.  It's been amazing these last few days!  My surgery is still on Feb.10th, next Wed., at Memorial Sloan Kettering here in NYC. (Cake is Great, I delivered my children at St. Luke's Roosevelt.  Who's your breast surgeon there?)

Goodnight, everyone!  I wish you well.... healing energy to those recovering and tough "I can do this!" power to everyone whose surgery is coming up this week.

 Larissa 

 

cornellalum

Larissa - Yes, yes, yes! You now understand where I am on my BMX (and, I suspect, many other ladies).  I will have my BMX on Monday, and be DONE. With all of it. Done with the worrying about "is it going to come back in this breast or the other."  Because the bc will be gone.  And I will be here to take care of my children for however long they need me.  So many women don't get the chance to do this - to take the opportunity to make it all go away.  And be DONE.  So I am lucky to have this chance.

So yes, I so completely understand that you no longer have anxiety.  That you are actually relieved to have made this decision.  And that you are lucky to have this chance.

TO BE DONE.  This week.

So how cool it that?

rockermom

Hi to you all-- one more for your Feb. list. scheduled for bi-lat mx Feb 22, 2010 no reconstruction. been fighting DCIS in both sides for about 4 yeard now and Doc said it's time to stop and just remove them.  every 6 months mamo-ultrasound and MRI and biopsy. 

keep the hugs and prayers going as i will for you all.

Rockermom

lovemygarden

Good morning, everyone! I'm so sorry it took this long to reply but I didn't know about the 5-posts-in-24-hours limit... so had to wait.

Lillies4Laurie asked where I got the new zipfront camisole. I got it in the one local store we have, rather than online, because I wanted to have it to take to the hospital a few days later. But I did find a site that sells it: http://thepinkbra.com/amoena2860.html   Scroll down for a closeup of the front showing the lace trim, because the top photo really doesn't show the cami that well. Also FYI, there is a soft flap behind the zipper which keeps the zipper itself from touching your skin. There are no "rough edges" anywhere, everything is very soft and comfortable. It's machine-washable on warm, and hang to dry. You can also adjust the size of the removable "boob puffs" by just pulling out some of the fiberfill inside. 

 Faith316: I too have super-ultra-sensitive skin and can only use paper tape. (I also have a meds-allergy list a mile long, including even OTC topical stuff like Bacitracin, Polysporin, and Neosporin which is a combo of the previous two).  And yes, Steri-Strips don't fall off me easily either. But as of yesterday I am now CLEAN, because I washed my (newly short) hair in the kitchen sink in the afternoon and then last night plucked up my courage for a shower. I have a handheld spray on an adjustable bar, so I set the holder to its lowest point so that the water only hit below my waist when I wasn't actually holding onto it. Am still afraid to get any of the surgical sites wet, though! (*makes chicken-y clucking sounds*)

I really am not in any pain either, and haven't been. The most I've taken is 4 regular strength Tylenol the day before yesterday because I got those weird sharp underarm pains the other night while watching TV. My chest/underarms basically just feel numb and very tight, like when I once had to wear a compression bandage for 36 hours. Other than that, the only time anything hurts is when I first get out of bed after lying flat in one position for 5-7 hours ... it burns a bit for maybe a minute or so.. then stops. 

Larissa:  I know exactly how you feel. I too have a horror of any kind of surgery or invasive procedure, even something as "simple" as a biopsy or a needle stick. But as soon as I heard the odds pro/con the prophylactic mastectomy there was no doubt in my mind. Actually, I'll be honest: even if the statistical difference was less than it is, I would still have had no doubt, because the level of worry 'going forward' would have impacted my emotional quality of life far too much. (and like my grown son commented when I told him my decision: "Hey, it's not like you were Jenna Jamison to begin with, Mom!" ) By the way, he told me afterwards that if I had NOT chosen the prophylactic as well, he'd have been extremely upset and worried and frankly would have told me "are you nuts???!!" 

I did wonder how I'd react to that first "surgical dressing off" look, but it was okay. I did look downward from above first, rather than in the mirror first, though! I think that helps a bit. Of course part 2 of that will be after the sutures come out (?) on Tuesday but still, I don't anticipate any huge emotional trauma. My surgeon did apologize that I'm not equally flat on both sides, but that's because my bone of my ribcage on my right side actually protrudes more than it does on my left -- nothing that can possibly be done about that, so not her fault at all. So I have a bit of a bump-out on the right side where my cleavage (ha! as if a Nearly B cup ever could have been called "cleavage"?) used to be. But again, I weigh less now than normally .. 107 instead of 115-118 ... which means I have absolutely zero 'padding' anywhere.

 Anyone else here have a port installed at the time of their bilateral? If so, are you having any difficulty doing the post-op exercises you were given, on that side?

rockermom: Congratulations on getting off the "testing treadmill" soon!  Hugs and wishes for you starting right now!

 p.s. - We got hardly any snow here at all -- the storm just sort of waved at us as it breezed by. Not even enough to cover up the grass entirely. Whew! (Not that I was planning on going anywhere/doing anything, but still) From what I see on the news, other areas got pummelled.

Faith316

Hello everybody and welcome rockermom to our group.  I'll add you to our list above.

Day 4 post-op.  Still doing ok, still no need for any pain meds.  Showering is not difficult, just a little slower than usual.  I don't have any problems getting the incision wet.  It is covered in only staples and then I just VERY gently pat dry.  When I emptied drains before my shower this morning, it was 20 cc in one and 15 cc in the other.  My surgeon said that when either got to no more than 30 cc total in a 24 hour time period to come on in and she would remove it.  I don't have to wait until both are at that level.  She said they can come out one at a time if one is ready before the other.  

My chest looks horrible.  Not anywhere near flat at all.  I also have a huge dog ear under my arm.  I am quite overweight and I am sure that is part of the reason it looks so bad.  At some point, I will most likely have DIEP so hopefully at that time, things can be cleaned up a bit and look a lot better.  Since I have IBC, my doctors want me to wait a bit before doing reconstuction.  Not sure when yet.  Maybe in the fall or next winter??? Nobody has told me what kind of time frame they are thinking.  Not worrying about that part now.  One thing at a time.

Quite a few of our February sisters are having surgery this week starting with cornellalum and toni67 tomorrow.  Good luck girls.  I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.

Hope all of the girls who had surgery this week are feeling ok.  Please pop in as you are able and tell us how you are doing.

hbowser

Good afternoon ladies,

Day 5 post-op (had surgery on Feb 2).  I am doing okay; stopped taking pain meds. around day 2 and only taking Tylenol and ativan to help sleep at night.  Drain output is really low and probably can get the drain out tomorrow, but will wait until my appointment on Tuesday.  Probably will take that long to get shoveled out.  We got around 27" of snow the past few days.  I was able to look at my chest after the surgeon came in and removed the bandages.  I only have steristrips across my right chest and across the port removal incision.  Doesn't look too bad, but kind of weird to see a concave area.  May I ask the ladies who had surgery, how big are your incisions?

cornellalum and toni67 - Good luck tomorrow.  what time are your surgeries?  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I am also hoping all the ladies who had surgery so far this month are doing okay and recovering nicely.  

Have a great week everyone. 

badger

Hi Holly, my incisions are each about nine inches long.  They go straight across the front then angle slightly, down under my arms.  I think that's so the doc could do the SNB with retractors instead of armpit incisions, and also to get rid of the dog ears, both of which I greatly appreciate. 

There's a space of about three inches between incisions in what used to be my cleavage.  I am flat, not concave.  Very happy that I've retained feeling in my arms and chest.  Since I'm not having recon, I didn't need that little pouch of skin (dog ear), but from what I understand, it will come in handy later for the ladies doing recon.

p.s. if anyone wants a good cheap gift idea, I suggest one of those bamboo back scratchers that look like a little hand.  They're under $5 and just the best when no one's around and you can't quite reach the middle of your back...  {{hugs}}

Faith316

Holly, I had uni-mx and axillary node dissection on Feb. 4.  My incision is about 12 inches long.

cornellalum

Well, I'm ready.  I've got everything packed and everything else ready for when I get home.  Leaving the house at 4:30 AM to get to the hospital by 6:30 AM.  (good thing I'll be able to get some sleep tomorrow .  DH not so lucky.)   SNB injections first (both sides), then surgery at 8:30.  It's hard to believe that this time tomorrow, it'll be long over.  Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. 

Toni67 - I am thinking of you, and good vibes are headed your way for tomorrow.

Bodhi, LTK, and dangergirl - Wednesday will be here before you know it. Remember that everyone says that the waiting is worse than the recovery.  Strength and courage. 

I'm off to have a nice dinner with dh and dd.  Talk to you all when I'm on the other side!

badger

{{cornellalum}} and {{toni67}} best wishes for surgery and recovery tomorrow!!!

charua

Hey ladies. I am 4 days out and the pain has gotten better but is still there. I ended up getting the one step with Alloderm so hopefully I won't need any more surgeries.

 Right now my breasts look kinda deformed which is scary but I think once the swelling goes away, it will look normal. They are swollen in different places so they look misshapen.

 It also looks like I am going to lose one of my nipples. I am prettys sad about that b/c I really wanted to keep them but I guess it will work out.

 I have that horrible tight feeling all the time. I am hoping it gets better as the swelling goes down.

 I go the BS tomorrow to see if the path reports showed any cancer (I am doing this as a prophylactic measure). I am hoping it goes well.

 You are all such strong amazing  ladies and I can't wait to read your stories and updates.

 Lots of love ladies!

Charu

badger

Hey charua - good to hear from you, glad you made it through, sorry to hear about your troubles though.  Yes, you're right, it will work out, they can do amazing things these days!  Good luck for your appt tomorrow w/BS.  I also see my surgeon tomorrow, to get drains out and I hope he'll have prelim path report from SNB.  I am intensely curious about the nodes and don't want to have to wait for onc appt 2/23.  {{hugs}}

Faith316

Well, I got to play doctor this evening.  A little while ago, I noticed that my cami was getting a little bloody under the arm.  So, I took it off to investigate and found that one of my drain tubes was working its way out of my body.  Also, the drainage bulb attached to it was not holding the vacuum.  So, I called my surgeon and asked her what I should do and she told me to cut the suture and slide the tube out.  It did not hurt a bit.  She told me it might ooze a bit for a few days but not to worry about it.  Just put a piece of gauze or a bandaid on it.  So, now I just have one drain left.  I'll be glad to see that one go, too!

So, that is my excitement for the evening.   Hope everyone gets a good night's sleep. Good luck to our Monday girls!  I'll be thinking of you tomorrow!

Faith

badger

Faith - thanks for posting that.  One of my drain bulbs lost its suction yesterday but I'm not going to worry about it since it wasn't putting out much and also I see the doc this afternoon.  Not brave enough to snip the suture and pull it out myself though...

So we've heard from all the week 1 sisters except nieves and Paintressa - ladies, hope you are doing well!  {{hugs}}

Prayers for cornellalum and toni67 and all other sisters having surgery today, watch over them and their doctors!!

hbowser

Good morning, ladies.  Cornellalum should be in surgery as I type, praying for her and her doctors.  Also, sending prayers to Toni67.  Wishing these two brave ladies speedy recovery.

Groundhog - I am jealous that you are getting yours out today. Mine has not been putting out too much and it probably could come out today, but have to dig ourselves out first.  We got 27 inches.  Getting ready to call someone to see if they can come and dig us out.  

Charua - My thoughts and prayers are with you as you get your path. report today.  Please let us know how it goes.  

I hope the rest of you are healing quickly and that you are not in discomfort and for those having their surgery this week, know that you are in my prayers and it will be over before you know it.  

badger

Holly, we got one of those snowstorms last year, with 2+ feet of wet heavy snow...first time we'd ever called someone to plow us out...best $20 ever spent.  Good luck digging out!

dangergirl

To all my fellow february mx'ers:

Thanks everyone for the support, sharing your stories, suggestions, etc.  What a great resource!  I'm in the northeast, and another big storm is supposed to beheading this way for Weds, my surgery day.  PS office just called to have me come in tomorrow for marking instead of weds AM just in case the snow interferes with their office hours.  As long as the snow doesn't affect my surgery schedule, I'm good.  I'm nervous, but I'm ready.  Let's get on with it.

My thoughts and prayers are with the other ladies on the schedule for today, and for this week.